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You could make a damn fine Saturday Night Live cast out of funny people who never made it out of the writers’ room. That group reads like a cast of comedy all-stars, united by the fact that nearly all of them had a miserable time on the show.

Here are five famous comics you might not have realized wrote for SNL...

1 Zach Galifianakis

The Hangover star and eventual SNL host lasted two weeks as a writer in 2000 before deciding he wasn’t cut out for the sketch grind. The concepts he pitched all landed with a thud, including an idea he had for a Britney Spears-hosted show.

Galifianakis (and America) noticed that young Spears “showed her belly button a lot,” he told Rob Lowe on his Literally podcast. That prompted an idea in which Will Ferrell would play a security guard stationed inside Spears’ navel, courtesy of the magic of green screen.

David Handelman, a print journalist turned TV writer who worked on the Aaron Sorkin series Sports Night, The West Wing, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and The Newsroom, has died. He was 63.

Handelman died Aug. 15 at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York from complications of Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, a rare blood cancer, producer David Van Taylor told The Hollywood Reporter.

Handelman also wrote for the 2006 CBS series Love Monkey; for season six (2008-09) of The CW’s One Tree Hill; for season two (2013-14) of ABC’s Nashville; and for season three (2015) of DirecTV’s Rogue.

Most recently, he was a staff producer and writer for almost a decade on CNN’s Smerconish, which paid tribute to him on the air in the days after his death.

Before television, Handelman was a staff writer at Rolling Stone, covering everyone from Beastie Boys and Talking Heads to Sam Kinison, folk...

The third volume of Neil Young’s ongoing Archives box set series chronicles 1976 to 1987. In that time frame, most artists might release three or four records, one possibly being a Greatest Hits comp. But not Young. After all, this is the guy who wrote “Cinnamon Girl,” “Cowgirl in the Sand,” and “Down by the River” all in one evening (with a deliriously high fever, no less). Between 1976 to 1987, Young churned out 10 solo albums — and left a lot on the cutting room floor. “I did a lot of recording during that...

In the making since 2019, Page Hurwitz’s new Netflix documentary, Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution, taps a throng of queer notables — from Wanda Sykes, Rosie O’Donnell and Lily Tomlin to Joel Kim Booster, Fortune Feimster and Bob the Drag Queen — to show how LGBTQ funny people have left their mark and challenged others’ perceptions for more than a century.

“None of these comedians set out to change the world. They set out to make people laugh,” Hurwitz said at the film’s Tribeca Festival premiere ahead of its June 18 streaming debut. “And along the way, they did change the culture and, I think, they changed the world.”

Featuring an intergenerational and diverse cast, the documentary — set against the backdrop of the Netflix Is a Joke Fest’s Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration show in 2022 — unpacks what has fueled the cycle of progress and regression that has surrounded the queer comedy community for decades.

Jeopardy! fans are not happy with the recent gameplay lately. On Friday, returning champion Amar Kakirde took on two new contestants, and many fans feel that the new competitors didn’t offer up much of a challenge. They even went as far as to say the challengers “fumbled hard” in the competition.

Here is a look at what happened on Friday’s show and why it was a tough episode for fans to watch.

Jeopardy! Challengers ‘Fumble’ Hard On Recent Episode

Returning Jeopardy! champion Amar Kakirde took on two new contestants on Friday: Anna Marie Cunningham and Has Karbalai. However, this ended up being no real competition for Amar, who moved on thanks to the perceived poor play from his challengers.

Amar showed up on Wednesday and beat Chris D’Amico to become the new champion. After Friday’s game, Amar was still champion and this was because the challengers “fumbled” the competition.

Individuals like Andy Kaufman, Richard Pryor, John Candy, Sam Kinison, Bill Hicks, Robin Williams, Gilda Radner, George Carlin, and Gene Wilder come to mind in a list of late comedic greats who changed the comedy landscape. Their influence remains a part of the art, with up-and-coming joke-slingers citing them as sources of inspiration. Sometimes, it’s good to reflect on the contributions of comedy’s titans. So Kino Lorder is proud to present Ron Frank’s Remembering Gene Wilder trailer, celebrating the life and career of the curly-haired clown alongside notable friends.

Remembering Gene Wilder is a heartfelt documentary and entertaining portrait of the life and career of the beloved actor, featuring an extensive array of highlights from Wilder’s most memorable films and interviews with his closest friends, family, and fellow comics.

Here’s the official description for Remembering Gene Wilder:

Remembering Gene Wilder is a loving tribute to...

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Like so many other children of the '80s, I watched the animated series religiously, dressed up as the characters for Halloween, had Turtle-themed birthday parties, and played with those awesome action figures. 

So when Paramount was putting together some press opportunities to promote the home video release of its excellent new animated film "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" and offered me the chance to speak with Kevin Eastman, who co-created the original Turtles comic with Peter Laird back in 1984, I immediately said yes, even though our conversation could only last five minutes. That's not nearly enough time to delve into all the different eras of the Turtles throughout their storied history, but in our short interview, Eastman told me about his favorite "Tmnt" movie moments, what it's been like...

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have endured in the pop culture consciousness for well over 30 years now, in no small part thanks to the '80s animated TV show and, perhaps more importantly, the wildly successful 1990 blockbuster live-action "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" film. Directed by Steve Barron, that movie was truly the point of no return. The Turtles became superstars and, arguably, for a time, the most popular superheroes in North America. But things could have been quite different if an early pitch for a film adaptation had been received more warmly.

/Film's Ben Pearson recently spoke with "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" co-creator Kevin Eastman in honor of the home video release of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem." During the conversation, Eastman recalled a pitch from none other than B-movie maestro Roger Corman in the '80s for a low-budget movie featuring Donnie, Leo, Raph, and Mikey. The craziest part?...

Over the course of its 11 seasons and 259 episodes, Married… With Children attracted plenty of famous and soon-to-be-famous guest stars, including Matt LeBlanc, Kathleen Freeman, Pamela Anderson, Milla Jovovich, and Jerry Springer, to name just a few. But one of the most memorable guest-starring appearances came from one of the era’s leading comedians, Sam Kinison, who appeared in an episode as Al Bundy’s guardian angel. Katey Sagal, who starred as Peg Bundy on the show, spoke at a fan event and said that Kinison’s presence on the set was both surprising and unforgettable. (Click on the media bar below to hear Katey Sagal) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Katy_Segal_Married_With_children_.mp3

Married… With Children is currently streaming on Pluto TV, Hulu, and Peacock.

The post Katey Sagal’s Most Memorable ‘Married’ Guest Star: Sam Kinison appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

Vice TV has set the premiere date and released the trailer for “Dark Side of Comedy” Season 2, its “Dark Side” spinoff series that explores the behind-the-scenes stories of iconic comedians.

Season 2 subjects include Robin Williams, Sam Kinison, Joan Rivers, Carlos Mencia, Phil Hartman, Tracy Morgan, the sitcom “Family Matters,” Ellen DeGeneres, Norm MacDonald and Gilda Radner.

“Dark Side of Comedy” Season 2 is narrated by Dave Foley with commentators including Pauly Shore, Marc Maron, Tiffany Haddish, Pamela Aldon, Sally Jesse Raphael, Mike Binder and Rolanda Watts.

In the Season 2 trailer, Binder says Williams was “running with a lot of really scary figures — and Robin himself was kind of a scary figure for a while.” Haddish says Rivers “was a hustler,” and describes her as “mean as hell.” And Watts describes an experience where DeGeneres “sat there as if we weren’t even there.”

Per Vice TV’s description for the new installment: “‘Dark Side of Comedy,...

On July 25th, 1990, as Roseanne Barr and Tom Arnold flew high above Jack Murphy Stadium, the San Diego Padres waited to face the Cincinnati Reds in the last of a four-game homestand. But before they would take the field, they would be graced with the presence of one of TV’s biggest stars performing the American National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” As the helicopter neared, Arnold looked over the crowd of more than 25,000 and tried to convince his wife that maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Soon before the first pitch, Roseanne belted her take on Francis Scott Key’s anthem, spit on the field and grabbed her crotch. It would be her most controversial moment…until decades later…

Let’s find out: Wtf Happened to…Roseanne Barr?

But to truly understand what the fuck happened to Roseanne Barr, we go back to the beginning. And the beginning...

The comedy world has been blessed with countless brilliant individuals whose laughter and wit have brightened our lives. Tragically, some of the most gifted stand-ups and comic actors have been taken from us too soon. Their stories are a mixture of laughter, pain, and heartache, leaving indelible marks on the comedy world. In this blog post, we pay tribute to the comedians who died young, exploring their lives, personal struggles, and the legacies they left behind.

Related: The 10 Best Stand-Up Specials of All Time (Ranked Best to Worst)

Short Summary Lenny Bruce, John Belushi, Chris Farley, Bernie Mac, Patrice O’Neal, and Mitch Hedberg all left legacy of courageous comedy. Bill Hicks and Andy Kaufman revolutionized the art of comedy with their boundary-pushing performances. Kevin Barnett, Jak Knight & Nick Nemeroff tragically passed too soon. Greg Giraldo & Freddie Prinze lost to addiction, a heartbreaking reminder that rising stars can be gone instantly.

Tosin Cole, Courtney B. Vance, and Emily Althaus in ’61st Street’ season 1 (Photo Credit: George Burns/AMC)

The CW’s fall 2023-2024 primetime schedule looks nothing like the network’s previous lineups. Gone are all the comic book-inspired superhero series, and in their place are British and Canadian imports along with unscripted reality shows.

All American is the only original The CW scripted series to appear on the upcoming season’s roster. Walker, which was recently renewed for a shorter season, will return midseason. And the network still hasn’t decided what to do about Gotham Knights, All American: Homecoming, or Superman & Lois.

The CW’S 2023 Fall Primetime Schedule Monday

8:00-9:00Pm All American (Season 6)

9:00-10:00Pm 61st Street (New Series) Tuesday

8:00-8:30Pm Son Of A Critch (New Series)

8:30-9:00Pm Run The Burbs (New Series)

9:00-9:30Pm...

The CW has released its schedule for 2023-24 — its first since local TV giant Nexstar took controlling ownership of the network — and as expected, it’s light on homegrown shows and features a number of series that began their lives elsewhere.

All American will lead off the week (pending resolution of the writers strike) in its familiar Monday spot, and unscripted staples Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Masters of Illusion and World’s Funniest Animals will remain on Fridays and Saturdays. The rest of the week, however, will be filled by acquisitions that cost less than homegrown original shows, part of Nexstar’s drive to make The CW profitable by 2025. (Under previous owners Warner Bros. and CBS, it never was, nor was it really designed to be.)

Along with All American, which earned an early renewal not long after Nexstar took control of The CW, Walker is...

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Bee–ah, that was a close one! A massive success upon release, Beetlejuice went through a strange and unusual production that saw multiple rewrites and firings, not to mention the dodging of some seriously questionable casting choices. But through the terrific performances by its cast and creative skirting around a small budget, the movie became one of the best horror-comedies ever, worthy of a sequel that has been in development hell for over three decades.

So let’s open up the handbook for the recently deceased and shake, shake, shake senora because it’s showtime! Let’s to find out…Wtf Happened to this movie?!

Following the massive success of Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, which pulled in $40 million on a $7 million budget, Tim Burton had his pick of what his next project would be. One thing he knew, it wouldn’t be talking horse movie Hot to Trot.

The classic TV series Married…With Children had a talented cast, including Ted McGinley. The former Happy Days star joined the sitcom in later seasons as Jefferson D’Arcy. But before landing the big role, the actor had a guest appearance on the show.

Married…With Children cast members Ed O’Neill, Katey Sagal, David Faustino,Christina Applegate, and Ted McGinley I Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic Ted McGinley played Jefferson D’Arcy on ‘Married…With Children’

When Married…With Children debuted in 1987, the show focused on the Bundy family and their neighbors Steve and Marcy Rhoades (David Garrison and Amanda Bearse). When Garrison left in 1990, the writers had Steve divorce Marcy, then leave town. The producers began searching for a new man for Marcy and found him in McGinley.

McGinley joined the cast in 1991 and his debut came in the Season 5 episode “Married…With Who.” A hungover Marcy wakes after a wild...

It's such a sad irony that Chris Farley is often remembered as a tragedy considering the hilarious human that he was. Substance abuse cut short the life of a star in his prime — and on the verge of breaking beyond the physical comedy he was known for.

After honing his craft at Chicago's historic Second City comedy group, Farley joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live" in 1990. Some of his most memorable characters included the Chicago Bears Superfan, motivational speaker Matt Foley, the host of The Chris Farley Show, a mall food court Gap Girl, and of course, a dancer auditioning for Chippendales. But by the mid-1990s, Farley had outgrown the small stage of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. After shining in bit roles in "Airheads" and "Billy Madison," Farley was ready for a starring role, playing alongside David Spade in the 1995 film "Tommy Boy." The movie became a cult classic and...

It took Guns N’ Roses less than a year to go from hard-rock paupers, targeted by L.A. street urchins with stuttering taunts of “Welcome to the jungle, you’re gonna die” (or, worse, “feel my serpentine?”), to become the Most Dangerous Band in the World. They were unprepared for fame. Their debut, 1987’s Appetite for Destruction, was crude and rude; its sci-fi cover illustration depicted a sexual assault, its lyrics reveled in misogyny and heroin abuse, one song (“Rocket Queen”) contained literal audio pornography, as a woman pants while...

Before Paul Reiser met with James Cameron for the role of Burke in "Aliens," he had to find a proper pair of pants.

Reiser was no babe in the Hollywood woods when Cameron came calling in the mid-1980s. He'd earned raves for his portrayal of the menschy Modell in "Diner," and stole a scene from Eddie Murphy as Detective Jeffrey Friedman in "Beverly Hills Cop" ("This is not my locker!"). He was also one of the most promising young stand-up comics in a loaded class that included Jerry Seinfeld, Sam Kinison, and Roseanne Barr.

And yet, because he was moving into his first house with his then-girlfriend Paula Ravets, he was sans appropriate pants for a big-time Hollywood meeting. Spoiler: he rifled through the moving truck, found pants, and took the meeting. This led to him reading the script, which led to him realizing he was about to be a part of something monumental.

In the late '70s and early '80s, comedians from "Saturday Night Live" made the transition to the big screen, and the move paid off big time. John Landis' "Animal House" provided a star vehicle for John Belushi, and the bawdy comedy made over 140 million against its modest 3 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). For their next trick, Belushi was joined by Dan Aykroyd for a big-budget version of their "SNL" musical act, "The Blues Brothers," which was another smash.

Arguably peak "SNL" at the movies came in 1984. "Beverly Hills Cop," starring Eddie Murphy, was the top-performing film domestically with 234 million, while "Ghostbusters" with Aykroyd and Bill Murray was a global sensation and became a pop culture phenomenon.

"Three Amigos," starring  Chevy Chase, Steve Martin, and Martin Short, was originally conceived in 1980 as a vehicle for - you guessed it - John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. By the time...

Marcel The Shell With Shoes On director/co-writer/co-editor Dean Fleischer-Camp discusses some of his favorite movies with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Marcel The Shell With Shoes On (2022)

Marcel The Shell With Shoes On (2010)

The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)

San Andreas (2015)

Airplane! (1980) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Ghost (1990)

Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)

Beetlejuice (1988) – Alex Kirschenbaum’s review

Batman (1989)

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Batman Returns (1992) – Alex Kirschenbaum’s review

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Ed Wood (1994)

Mars Attacks (1996)

Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Planet of the Apes (2001)

The Witches of Eastwick (1987)

8 ½ (1963) – Allan Arkush’s trailer commentary

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Westworld (1973) – Ed Neumeier’s trailer commentary

Robocop (1987) – Dan Ireland’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray reviews

Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)

Alien (1979) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings

Aliens (1986) – Glenn Erickson’s...

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias can remember the exact date and moment he made his stand-up comedy debut, even though it wasn’t planned. It was April 10, 1997, at the Golden Sails Hotel in his hometown of Long Beach, Calif. There was a bar with a stage that welcomed artists on a regular basis, but that particular night the emcee failed to show up.

“My buddy said to me, ‘Dude, you always talk about wanting to do stand-up. Just get up there and emcee,’” Iglesias says.

The 20-year-old cellphone salesman resisted at first, but destiny would not be denied — eventually he jumped up and spoke for what he believes was three or four minutes, though Iglesias admits, “It felt like an eternity.”

But the crowd laughed. And Iglesias was hooked.

It would take some time for Iglesias to fully transform into his “Fluffy” persona, perhaps best exemplified by his broad smile, bold Hawaiian...

Actor/Producer Neal McDonough discusses a few of his favorite movies with Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Masters of the Universe (1987) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary

Boon (2022)

The Warrant (2020)

The Warrant: Breaker’s Law (2022)

The Cowboys (1972) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary

The Shootist (1976) – John Landis’s trailer commentary

The French Connection (1971) – Mark Pellington’s trailer commentary, Dennis Lehane’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings

The Sting (1973)

Jaws (1975) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary

Minority Report (2002)

Red Stone (2021)

A History Of Violence (2005)

Greater (2016)

Unforgiven (1992)

There Will Be Blood (2007)

The Mule (2018) – Dennis Cozzalio’s 2018 year-end review

Gran Torino (2008)

War And Peace (1966) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Duel (1971) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary

Nobody (2021)

Caddyshack (1980) – Adam Rifkin’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings

Caddyshack II (1988)

Natural Born Killers (1994)

Back To School (1986)

Stripes (1981)

Bullitt (1968) – Alan Spencer’s trailer commentary

True Grit (1969) – Stuart Gordon’s trailer...

When My Cousin Vinny arrived in theaters on March 13, 1992, nobody had any idea we’d still be talking about it 30 years later. A midmarket, fish-out-water comedy about a streetwise Brooklyn attorney (Joe Pesci) who travels to Alabama with his plucky girlfriend (Marisa Tomei) to help his innocent nephew (Ralph Macchio) beat a bum murder rap, the film didn’t get much promotion out of the gate. Instead, the studio that produced it, 20th Century Fox, invested heavily in higher-profile offerings like Alien 3 and White Men Can’t Jump. Wayne’s World...

Norm Macdonald, the revered stand-up comic, actor, writer and former “Weekend Update” anchor on Saturday Night Live, has died after a nine-year battle with cancer. He was 61. Launch a photo gallery of his career by clicking on the image above.

Macdonald began his career in show business by starting in the comedy clubs of Canada. Influenced by the likes of David Letterman, Bob Hope and Sam Kinison, he developed his trademark style that became highly influential for a generation of comics.

After competing on 1990’s Star Search, Macdonald landed a writing job on The Dennis Miller Show. He later was hired to write for Roseanne Barr’s sitcom Roseanne for the 1992-93 season before landing at NBC’s Saturday Night Live.

At SNL, beyond his popular impressions of Burt Reynolds, Larry King and Quentin Tarantino, Macdonald was most known for his acerbic wit and deadpan delivery on the “Weekend Update” desk,...

There have been several documentaries, both large and small, focused on the history of women in stand-up comedy. The short take is that, much like every industry in the world, being a woman in a man’s world sucked. But Andrea Blaugrund Nevins’ upcoming FX documentary, “Hysterical,” does something different.

It really leans into that fact, not just by reminding us that yes, women had a hard time breaking into the industry, but also how often men — even friends of the female comics themselves — didn’t really see anything wrong with it. Nevins’ documentary is a fierce, frustrating, and utterly amazing look at the strength of these women comics, and how they weaponized their trauma to make us (and themselves) laugh through their tears.

Kicking things off with Billie Eilish’s “Therefore I Am” over the opening credits, “Hysterical” shows pictures of the comic subjects as little girls, introducing the...

Laraine Newman was 23 years old when she was cherry-picked by Lorne Michaels to join the inaugural cast of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” in 1975, along with Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris and Dan Aykroyd. During her five-year tenure on the iconic show, Newman skyrocketed to fame for playing memorable characters such as Connie Conehead and Sheri the Valley Girl. A founding member of the legendary comedy troupe the Groundlings, the Emmy-nominated comic would go on to appear in Woody Allen’s “Stardust Memories” and in TV series such as “St. Elsewhere” and “Laverne & Shirley.” Newman would later carve out a thriving career as a voiceover artist, behind characters in such blockbuster animation projects as “The Incredibles,” “Minions” and “The Secret Life of Pets.” She’s also continued to hone her comic chops in the Drama Desk award-winning show “Celebrity Autobiography,” which was created by Eugene Pack.

HBO Max probably could have just left its upcoming show named as the “Untitled Jean Smart Series” and that would be all that a bunch of viewers would need to know to want to tune in.

Still, Wednesday’s panel at the Television Critics Association virtual Winter Press Tour offered up a good idea of what powers the still-yet-unnamed series. The show centers on Smart as Deborah Vance, a comedian whose act has been a marquee Las Vegas attraction for years. Hannah Einbinder plays a fledgling comedy writer tasked with helping Deborah’s act reach a broader audience.

If “pioneering comedian with a Vegas act” conjures a specific real-life analogue, then don’t expect Smart to be playing that particular person. She said that her performance wasn’t drawn solely from Joan Rivers or any specific idea.

“Every once in a while, there’ll be a scene or I’ll...

Orson Welles is remembered for many things. His narration of War of the Worlds on the radio is legendary. He gave the world the groundbreaking film Citizen Kane. He schemed to the tunes of zither in the Third Man. He died voicing the planet-eating robot Unicron in Transformers: The Movie. One of the more obscure episodes in his life was when he was hired to record voiceover ads for Findus and their frozen food products.

Yes, it’s one of those things that’s just too weird to exist.

Once upon a time, Welles was tasked with recording lines for a peas commercial and things started to go off the rails. He and the directors didn’t see eye-to-eye, he didn’t appreciate any notes about his delivery, and eventually, he stormed out of the session, claiming that no money was worth this. Somehow, the audio was bootlegged and the...

Walter C. Miller, a five-time Emmy-winner best known for producing or directing the Grammys, Tonys and CMA Awards in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, died on Friday evening, the Country Music Association confirmed to Variety. He was 94.

“Walter was an absolute television legend,” said CMA chief executive officer Sarah Trahern in a statement. “When you worked with him, you instantly knew you were in the presence of greatness. He brought so much innovation and brilliance to the CMA Awards over the 40 years he worked with the organization.”

Miller also served at the helm of other awards shows, as well, including the Emmys, People’s Choice Awards and Latin Grammys.

Miller was nominated for 19 prime-time Emmy Awards, taking home five trophies between 1972 and 1999 — four of them from directing the Tony Awards. He was also nominated for two daytime Emmys. Miller was a three-time Directors Guild of America winner. In 1993, he won...

Welcome to this week’s SmackDown Live review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and if Sam Kinison had played Sandy in Grease, then all of her songs would have been loud screams. Hopelessly Devoted To You! Ahhhh! Ahhhh! Ahhhhh! Okay, Roman Reigns still wants to know who tried to kill him. I want to review this show…or bring me Peter Pan! I need to know if he’s a dude or a chick. That stupid hat. Here comes SmackDown.

Match #1: Elias def. Ali – King of the Ring Quarterfinals Match The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

With a spot in the semifinals on the line, Ali squared off against Elias in the King of the Ring Quarterfinals. Both Superstars came out of the gates with their best stuff, as Ali used his blinding speed and took to the skies. Elias attempted to counter by overpowering Ali,...

"I was just looking for any way to make a mark." The Paramount Network has unveiled an official trailer for an indie documentary titled I Am Patrick Swayze, the latest in the "I Am" series of docs about iconic actors. The original documentary series "I Am", mostly from director Adrian Buitenhuis, is an inside look at the lives of extraordinary individuals as told by the people who knew them best. They have covered Heath Ledger, Sam Kinison, Richard Pryor, and Paul Walker before, now it's time for Swayze. Best known for his appearances in films like Ghost and Dirty Dancing and Point Break, Swayze passed away at the age of 57 in 2009. The film features interviews with co-stars such as Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Sam Elliott, Jennifer Grey, and C. Thomas Howell, and many more insights into his life in & outside of Hollywood. Take a look below. Here's the official trailer...

Patrick Swayze’s life and legacy will be remembered in an upcoming documentary from Paramount Network and Network Entertainment, titled I Am Patrick Swayze.

The film is the latest installment of Paramount Network’s I Am franchise, and will explore the late actor’s childhood in Texas, his road to fame, and his relationship with widow Lisa Niemi.

The project includes interviews with the late Ghost and Dirty Dancing star’s friends and loved ones, including Niemi, his brother Don Swayze, and co-stars Sam Elliott, Jennifer Grey, C. Thomas Howell, Rob Lowe, Kelly Lynch, Demi Moore, Lori Petty, Marshall R. Teague, director Roland Joffe, agent Nicole David, manager Kate Edwards, personal assistant Rosemary Hygate, stuntman Cliff McLaughlin, and bodyguard Frank Whiteley.

I Am Patrick Swayze, directed by Adrian Buitenhuis, is the latest project from Network Entertainment’s award-winning filmmaker Derik Murray. Executive producers include Paul Gertz, Kent Wingerak, Derik Murray,...

MGM Television is developing an unscripted series inspired by the Rodney Dangerfield movie “Back to School,” the company announced on Monday.

Inspired by the ’80s comedy starring Dangerfield and Keith Gordon, the docuseries features parents who surprise their kids by enrolling in college alongside them. According to MGM, the untitled series “will allow parents who missed out on their own college years to experience everything university life has to offer, including sharing a classroom with their kids — who may be less than thrilled by the idea.”

“I am so excited to take the premise of one of my favorite films into the unscripted world,” said MGM’s Barry Pznick, president of unscripted television. “Rodney was a comedic genius and his spirit is very much in the DNA of our show’s approach to a dual fish-out-of-water comedic format for audiences to experience along with our parents and kids. I love...

Coming to the stage next: a Showtime documentary series about the legendary Comedy Store. Mike Binder will direct the four-part project that’s eyed for 2020.

The untitled series from Showtime Documentary Films brings to life the legends, heartbreak and history created at the Comedy Store. As a Comedy Store alum, former stand-up comic Binder spotlights one of pop culture’s great laboratories with never-before-seen footage and incisive, emotional interviews with some of the biggest names in comedy.

Founded by Sammy Shore, Mitzi Shore and Rudy DeLuca in 1972, the iconic West Hollywood club has launched the careers of countless comics. A mere sampling Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, David Letterman, Jay Leno, Sarah Silverman, Chris Rock, Jim Carrey, Sam Kinison, Bill Burr, Dave Chappelle, Marc Maron, Whitney Cummings, Iliza Shlesinger, Paul Rodriguez, David Spade, Bob Saget, Howie Mandel, Joe Rogan, Chris D’Elia, Tom Dreesen and Jimmie Walker.

“The Comedy Store is...

Showtime Documentary Films has announced an upcoming docu-series on the history of The Comedy Store, the Los Angeles landmark where some of the world’s biggest comics got their start.

The four-part series will featuring never-before-seen footage and interviews with veteran comedians including Judd Apatow, David Spade, Martin Lawrence and Bob Saget.

Expected to debut on Showtime in 2020, Comedy Store alum Mike Binder (“Black or White”) will direct. Binder will also executive produce along with Mike Tollin (“The Franchise”), Jon Weinbach, Peter Shore and Paul Young. The Comedy Store’s creative director Adam Eget will produce, and Jonathan Vogler will also produce for Mandalay Sports Media.

Also Read: Bel Powley to Star With Pete Davidson in Judd Apatow Comedy at Universal

Per Showtime, the series “brings to life the legends, heartbreak and history created at The Comedy Store, which over the past 47 years has launched the careers of a breathtaking array of stars.

“Pimps, poverty, racism — he took all that dark shit and made it light,” says writer and historian Dr. Todd Boyd in the Paramount Network’s upcoming documentary I Am Richard Pryor, which dives deep into the life of the titular comedy legend. The film will have its world premiere on March 12 at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin and will debut March 15 on the Paramount Network.

As part of the network’s I Am docuseries, I Am Richard Pryor is directed by Jesse James Miller and explores and celebrates the life and career of the iconic comedian who lifted himself out of poverty to achieve worldwide success. As seen in the trailer above, Miller tells the story of Pryor via his wife Jennifer as well as high-profile comedians, writers, producers and actors including Sandra Bernhard, Ron De Blasio, Michael Epps, Tiffany Haddish, Howie Mandel, Lily Tomlin, Rocco Urbisci, Jimmie Walker and others.

30 years later, 1988 still stands as rap’s greatest year. The lyrical molotovs of ‘Nation of Millions’ and ‘Straight Outta Compton, the post-modern (and pre-lawsuit) free-for-all of sampling, the national spotlight of a new show called ‘Yo! MTV Raps’ and much more. To celebrate 30 years, Rolling Stone’s Best of ’88 explores the 10 greatest songs from those explosive 12 months. See our previous entries on Rob Base and D.J. E-z Rock and Epmd.

In the four years leading up to 1988, multi-platinum, arena-rocking, Rolling Stone cover stars Run-dmc were the uncontested Kings of Rock,...

"That guy made the best of every single minute." Paramount Network has debuted an official trailer for a documentary titled I Am Paul Walker, about the late actor who died in a car crash in 2013. The feature-length documentary is the latest from filmmaker Adrian Buitenhuis, who also made the docs I Am Heath Ledger and I Am Sam Kinison previously. We're breaking our rule of not covering any TV, only because this is a film about an actor and it's still a real film though it's premiering on a TV network. The doc features appearances by Fast and Furious actor Tyrese Gibson and director Rob Cohen, director Wayne Kramer, family members Cody Walker, Caleb Walker, Ashlie Walker, Cheryl Walker, and Paul Walker III; Oakley Lehman, Dr. Michael Domeier, plus his manager Matt Luber. This looks like a very emotional remembrance. Here's the official trailer for Adrian Buitenhuis' documentary I Am Paul Walker,...

I was in the Groundlings main company doing sketches. A girlfriend of mine named Judy Toll, who went on to become a writer on “Sex and the City” and was a really funny comedian, was in the Groundlings but was also doing sets at The Comedy Store, founded by Mitzi Shore. I was doing a kind of stand-up at the Groundlings, and people there like Judy and Lisa Kudrow told me that they thought I would be better at stand-up than sketch comedy, because I would tell these personal, kind of unique stories. But I was scared to try a comedy club. It’s such a different environment than the Groundlings Theatre, which was a 99-seat theater with no bar. But Judy said, “Let me see if I can talk to Mitzi and if I can get you a good, respectable, 10- to 15-minute audition slot.”

So I went with Judy to the Store,...

Mitzi Shore, who founded the Los Angeles stand-up comedy club The Comedy Store in 1972, has died at age 87. She became a matriarch for a generation of comedians who began their careers on her stage and went on to become superstars. Comedians who graced her stage include Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfeld, Garry Shandling, Freddie Prinze, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Chevy Chase, Sam Kinison, Byron Allen, Andrew Dice Clay and Jim Carrey. The latter co-created the Showtime series I’m Dying Up Here based on his early stand-up days, and it is said that Melissa Leo’s character Goldie Herschlag was modeled after Shore.

Shore passed away this morning. Awaiting more information, but her passing was confirmed in a statement by The Comedy Store.

“It is with great sadness and very heavy hearts that we report the passing of Mitzi Shore, the legendary Godmother of the world famous Comedy Store. Mitzi was...

How did it take so long to get a Lifetime movie about the Coreys? A Tale of Two Coreys is a tragic Hollywood rise-and-fall saga: two teen actors who make it big in the Eighties, complete with fire-hazard hair, drugs, groupies and pastel blazers. Corey Haim and Corey Feldman first paired up in the 1986 vampire classic The Lost Boys, and became inseparable BFFs, only to crash hard. In other words, it's a story made to order for a lurid low-budget Lifetime biopic, with a cast full of unknowns. But unlike...

A new documentary, I Am Sam Kinison, will explore the life and impact of the controversial shock comic with commentary from Charlie Sheen, Jay Leno, Tommy Chong and Corey Feldman, among others. The film will premiere on Spike TV on December 19th at 10 p.m. Est, with an uncensored version airing two hours later.

A two-minute preview of the warts-and-all film shows clips of Kinison performing, including one where Rodney Dangerfield introduced him at an early show, as well as a glimpse of the 1989 Rolling Stone cover story on Kinison...

A murderous principal, werewolves, a school bus massacre, a demonic pumpkin creature. In lesser hands, these elements combined might signal an overly ambitious, convoluted mess jammed into a tight 82 minutes. Luckily, Trick ’r Treat is quite the opposite: a bold anthology of Halloween tales stitched together like patchwork on a quilt, written and directed by the very capable Michael Dougherty (Krampus). In fact, Dougherty’s cleverly crafted Frankenstein-esque film should be at the top of every seasonal watch list; it’s a Halloween perennial that refuses to stay dead. Here’s why.

Originally set to hit theaters in October 2007, Warner Bros. inexplicably pulled the film from its schedule, despite a young, recognizable cast and seasonal allure. It was rumored to be bumped to the following October, but ended up settling with a straight-to-dvd release in 2009. For whatever reason, the studio’s lack of confidence and treatment of the film stunted...

Back in the 80s Corey Feldman and Corey Haim were a couple of fun-loving teenage heartthrobs that gained fame as they starred in a few films together. Some of those films included The Lost Boys, Licence to Drive, and Dream a Little Dream. The two actors became very close friends and remained friends up until Haim's death in 2010.

The two actors have gone through a lot together growing up in the Hollywood system and their story is going to be told in a Lifetime biopic called A Tale of Two Coreys which Feldman himself is supporting.

The film will follow the troubled and dark lives of the two Corey's who both struggled with drug addiction and sexual abuse. Haim was reportedly raped at 11-years-old and all of the horrific abuse that he had gone through led to his death.

Feldman talked about the biopic in an interview with Yahoo, saying:...

Caroline Preece Jan 13, 2017

We take a look back at the original Charmed, and what made it so special...

The premise for Charmed must have sounded simple - a female-centric show about three witches living in San Francisco that would cash in on the success of Buffy The Vampire Slayer on the still-new WB network. They wouldn’t just be witches, but also sisters, relatable across demographics with Prue (Shannen Doherty) - the late-20s sensible one, Piper (Holly Marie Combs) - the neurotic middle sister, and Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) - the wayward college dropout.

See related Tales From The Crypt: M. Night Shyamalan reviving horror TV series

The late-90s was an era of Us network television that fostered a whole bunch of series focusing on ‘kick-ass’ female leads - Buffy, Xena, Dark Angel etc. - but what Charmed wanted to do was slightly different. From the start, the...

The Comedy Store on Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip has hosted many of stand-up’s biggest stars, from Robin Williams to David Letterman, Richard Pryor and Roseanne Barr. And the house behind the popular venue often served as a crash pad for those talents, a sort of comedy frat house — and sometimes den of iniquity — for regular performers.

In a feature about the storied residence, known as Cresthill, Buzzfeed lays out its rise, famed residents (Andrew Dice Clay, Sam Kinison, Jim Carrey, Robin Williams and more lived or “hung out” there in the 1980s), and residual significance to fans of the comedy giants.

If you missed the recent ’90s tribute episode of “Mr. Robot,” you can still hear all about it — and so much more — in this SAG-aftra Foundation interview with Christian Slater, moderated by Indiewire’s own Michael Schneider.

In the 35-minute taping, Slater covers everything from his Comic-Con 2015 live reading with the cast of the FX comedy hit “Archer,” to one of his newest projects, a based-on-true-events film titled “King Cobra,” in which he stars alongside James Franco as a dark, obsessive, gay porn producer.

[Spoilers for “Mr. Robot” Seasons 1 and 2 below.]

After the screening of the 90s tribute episode, which includes a cameo from Alf (yes, the Alf), Slater told the audience, “It was [an episode] we were very excited to do. But we thought, even while we were filming that particular episode, people are either going to enjoy this or we’re going to go straight to hell — that was sort of the vibe while we were doing it.

Olive's new branded line reissues the Nicholas Ray classic with a full set of authoritative extras -- plus a never-before-seen widescreen transfer, in all of its Trucolor glory. Joan Crawford and Sterling Hayden never looked better -- we can all compare theories about la Crawford's color-coded costumes. Just how masculine is Vienna supposed to be? Johnny Guitar (Olive Signature widescreen edition) Blu-ray Olive Films 1954 / Color / 1:66 widescreen / 110 min. / Street Date September 20, 2016 / available through the Olive Films website / 39.95 but heavily discounted Starring Joan Crawford, Sterling Hayden, Mercedes McCambridge, Scott Brady, Ward Bond, Ben Cooper, Ernest Borgnine, John Carradine, Royal Dano, Frank Ferguson, Paul Fix, Rhys Williams. Cinematography Harry Stradling Film Editor Richard Van Enger Original Music Victor Young Written by Philip Yordan from the novel by Roy Chanslor Produced by Herbert J. Yates Directed by Nicholas Ray

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

Wow, it's already been four years since Olive released a...

It’s not easy being thirty. At least that seems like the case for Mike Birbiglia. The comedian, actor, writer, and now director isn’t quite at the level of Eeyore, but he’s definitely one of indie cinema’s recent favorite sad sacks. A consistent theme in his work is a male character (always himself) self-analyzing his life and career and pining after the “shoulda been me” moments that could have propelled his career. Part of this introspection is centered around how the thirties is ultimately the final nail in your budding professional career. At that point you might as well turn off the microphone and settle down into a life of domesticity. Well… at least in the eyes of Birbiglia.

I admit that I wasn’t much of a fan of his previous film – the directorial debut Sleepwalk With Me. It’s consistent down beat tone became a slog to get through.